They are all charged with failing to comply with a notice which required counter-protesters at the James Larkin march last July to assemble in a designated spot.

All five deny the charge.

The hearing, which is scheduled to last two days, heard evidence from senior officers who were responsible for policing the event.

Chief Inspector Martin Woosey said protestors were told at the start of the march that they would be liable for arrest if they tried to disrupt the procession, which in previous years had been marred by scenes of public disorder.

He said that all five of the accused were spoken to by officers on separate occasions during the course of the march, culminating in their arrest as it made its way along Hanover Street and The Strand.

Giving evidence, Chief Inspector Mark Morgan said that he saw Harrison, Aspinall, and Halvorsen "chanting and gesticulating" towards the marchers in Hanover Street, which they denied.

He also told the court that he saw Paul and Margaret Anders “shouting abuse” towards the parade as it made its way along The Strand, which they also denied.